Franz
Kafka

Born on July 3, 1883, in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz Kafka emerged as a pivotal figure in 20th-century literature, blending elements of realism with the fantastic. Kafka's upbringing in a middle-class, German-speaking, Czech Jewish family was marked by a complex relationship with his authoritarian father, which profoundly influenced his literary themes. Despite being trained as a lawyer and spending his professional career in an insurance company, Kafka's passion lay in writing. His nocturnal writing sessions birthed influential works like "The Metamorphosis," "The Trial," and "The Castle," though most of his works were published posthumously, against his will. Kafka's intricate depictions of alienation and the absurdity of bureaucratic existence have left a lasting mark on literature, coining the term "Kafkaesque" to describe situations resembling his eerie narratives.

Kafka's life was characterized by his struggles with health, personal relationships, and a deep-seated self-doubt that led him to destroy a significant portion of his work. Despite these challenges, his literary output remained prolific, though largely unrecognized in his lifetime. Kafka's posthumous fame, orchestrated by his friend Max Brod who disobeyed Kafka's wish to have his unpublished works destroyed, illuminated his genius to the world. His literature, which transcends the boundaries of time and culture, continues to resonate with readers and scholars, exploring themes of existential angst, the futility of resistance against incomprehensible forces, and the quest for meaning in an indifferent world​.